the first rule of fic club is: you do NOT talk about fic club (recs)
With all the fuckery that went down last night, I figured maybe some recs are in order to staunch my feelings of annoyance over the whole thing.
(And no, I don't want to talk about it. I expressed my opinions at the time and until someone can give me a logical explanation that holds up under scrutiny, I'm not going to bother saying anything else. I want to get revenge by reccing and discussing some of the amazing fic that's been written in the past few weeks, because apparently these activities are ~dangerous and you know me: I'm a rebel.)
All my previous recs can be found via my LJ recs tag (with summaries and thoughts and such) or via my delicious recs tag if you just want to know pairing and a link.
+ Kiss A Girl by setissma (kris/adam) // YOU GUYS!! SOMEONE FINALLY WROTE GENDERSWAP OMG!! And it's actually really really good. Because it's not the typical genderswap plot; it's not about the genderswap being the catalyst for the still-a-dude character's realization that OMG, he does love the suddenly-Susaned character and the girl parts help him realize that it's not the parts that matter, it's the person inside the parts, blah blah. I do love those stories, but this is not that story. This is better, because it uses the genderswap to address a different issue entirely (Kris's penchant for teasing Adam with his "pretend" gay). Plus, it's funny and well-written and the Kris in this is utterly perfect.
"I'm okay," Kris says, and it's the truth; he has a house in LA and three guitars and friends who don't question how much he loves music and he has Adam. It hasn't been easy, but Kris has lived through harder things, and for the first time, he feels like he's not trying to split himself into pieces, one person on weekends and holidays and during two am phone calls and another the rest of the time. Adam's never asked him to be anything but what he is.
+Apples Are Not the Only Fruit by bexless (kris/adam) // So this is an AU. Surprisingly, I'm not that into AI8 AUs yet, just because I'm not sick of canon enough yet to really want AUs, but this one is well worth it even if you're not so much an AU person. Especially the first half, because it's just really sweet and delightful. Adam gets stranded on the side of the road, Kris helps him out, takes him to an apple festival, and learns about how giving up on your dreams is for stupid losers. Also, there's CHARLES. Charles really needs to be in more fic, at least the way he's written here, because he was maybe my favorite part, actually. He's like the CMM of AI8, except not a horrible douche who dates high school girls and fucks Paris Hilton. So okay, he's nothing like CMM, but he's hilarious and perfect in this fic.
“You basically gave up on music when things didn’t work out with Katy,” Charles said heatedly. “And it wasn’t her fault, but evidently you need someone’s foot up your ass, and if it has to be my foot, then so be it. I’m not letting this happen again.”
Kris eyed him warily. “What are we gonna do?”
Charles thumped Kris’ knee, and then his shoulder, and then his knee again. “Here’s what we’re gonna do, Sad Man. We’re gonna watch this movie and eat some oranges,” he held up a bag of them, “and you’re gonna tell me everything about this one night stand that messed you up so bad you’re hiding your freaking DVD’s, and I’m not gonna wince or anything because I am that good a friend and anyway I’ve seen his ass myself now, too.”
+ If It Kills Me by buffyx (kris/adam) // If you haven't read this fic yet, I'd be shocked, but also OMG GO READ IT!! Kris and Adam get stranded on a desert island. I don't want to spoil anyone for what happens, so I will just say, I fucking love this fic and everything about it. It might actually be my favorite AI8 fic right now. I mean, tomorrow someone will post something new and amazing that will become my favorite, but until then, THIS SHIT RIGHT HERE. Yes. This is why I'm in fandom and why I read fic. The emotional lives of the characters in this fic are so messy and rich and complicated and heartbreaking and perfect. I haven't loved a fic this much since I started reading Sandy's popslash, and this is seriously right up there with some of the best popfic. Even if you hate Kris and Adam, have no clue who the fuck they are, whatever--just go read this fic. You will not be sorry.
But there are no cameras or paparazzi here. Kris likes that he doesn’t have to think about it before he grabs Adam in a hug, or leans against him, or huddles by him at night when it gets cold. They wake up tangled together and it just feels natural. It’s funny because he’s spent months living out of hotel rooms, and hardly any time in the same bed as Katy; he’s missed this, having someone this close.
And he needs it. He needs the closeness, the human contact, needs Adam.
But that’s nothing new.
+ All This Waiting by summerstorm (kris/katy) // So, as some of you might know, I am not that fond of Katy in real life. However, how much I like her in fic depends entirely on the writer, and this fic so perfectly depicts a slice of their relationship that I end up having a sort of grudging respect for Katy. I love how realistic this is--fighting over stupid shit, letting small things turn into giant mountains of badness, the lack of communication until they try (and succeed, possibly) to fix it all with some awesome hot sex.
When Katy wants to discuss something important, she usually stays calm, rational. She lists what's wrong, explains why, and listens to him run over his side of the issue. Their relationship has lasted this long because they communicate, they know where they stand with regards to each other, and this - the screaming, the blame-placing, the lack of rationalizing things - is totally throwing him. It's not that they've never had stupid fights before; of course they have. It's the fact that they're having an illogical fight over something that they probably should discuss, something that Katy could actually be pissed about and that Kris would understand if she was.
Katy just yells at him, though, saying something about shopping, and then she grabs her room card, throws it in her bag, and storms out.
+ Here In Secret Harmonies by miss_begonia (kris/adam) // It's a Harry Potter AU, bitches! What more do I really need to say? Well, also! It has an amazing Brad. And it's adorable. And I love it. JUST GO READ IT. I am not even giving you a quote, because I am pretty sure I couldn't choose amongst all the awesome.
+ Summer Boys by rubyfruit (kris/adam) // It's like a cross between a summer camp AU and X-Men, and Kris is a WEREWOLF OKAY?? Does there need to be more explanation? It's awesome. And adorable. And Kris is a werewolf!! I will never get tired of that. I mean, he's more like Dog Boy or whatever, but STILL.
+ These Long Summer Days by honey_wheeler (megan/anoop) // I know, right? More het. This fic is so great though. Even if it wasn't really well-written, the Megan characterization ALONE is enough reason to read this. I could never imagine how to go about writing Megan, until this fic showed me exactly how it's done. Oh, and Anoop is kind of awesome, too. I wish honey_wheeler would write more because I really love her style and her prose and just everything. I kind of want her to write a Danny pairing, just to see if she could make me enjoy it. I think she probably could. *this is sadly locked, but I will leave the rec up in case it becomes unlocked in the future.
She likes to find excuses to interrupt his concentration when he’s reading. He never gets annoyed with her, never acts like she’s a bother. Sometimes, when they’ve been driving for hours and it’s hot and sticky and she feels like melting butter, she pushes him farther and farther, trying to find something that’ll make him snap at her. It’s the same thing she used to do with her brother when they were kids, poking and poking until the whole thing erupted into fists. But nothing ever works; he’s always calm and kind to her, no matter how ridiculous she gets. Usually it’s Lil who breaks first, using her very best Mommy-is-tired-now voice to ask Megan to zip her lip for just five minutes, please.
Sometimes Megan likes to sit next to him. Sometimes she likes to sit across the bus and just watch him. Sometimes she calls Ryder and makes Anoop tell him stories. None of the other boys will do the voices, but Anoop does. The long drives are more interesting when he’s around.
+ Voices Which Are Silent by colorofsmoke (kris/adam) // This fic is like sunshine on a cloudy day, and other great cliches from pop songs of old. It really is delightful and warm and fuzzy. It's pretty much the definition of adorable, and it actually reminds me a bit of the On the Bus fics, which were so wonderful in this same way. Kris gets homesick, and Adam helps him feel better (because Adam is MAGIC.)
Kris hates calling it homesickness, it's not like he's truly sick. It's not even like he really wants to be home right now. He's having fun, making money, doing what he loves. The main idea that he misses is the familiarity of everything home brings.
When the show was still going on, Kris had the same feeling at first. Waking up at 2am to get a snack wasn't the same when he had to creep out of the room and try and remember the easiest way to the kitchen. Gradually, though, that feeling had dissipated more and more each week. The room he shared with Adam built up with both of their things, and many conversations, so much so that it almost ended up feeling like a sort of home -- a place that was there for Kris every night, with an added bonus of someone to listen to anything he wanted to say.
+More Myself with You by jerakeen (kris/adam) // I don't know how I never read this before but OH MY GOD, you guys, this fic is so great. Kris like, finds a new assistant, gets divorced, learns how to cook, and watches Adam date a string of men who aren't good enough for him. It goes from present until several years in the future, and it's just. Yes. To me, this could be the beginner's guide to Kradam. It's pretty much everything I want to happen in a kradam fic, and it's wonderful.
Kris has missed seeing Adam in pajamas, in a completely normal, non-weird way. It’s just so different when Adam is out of his tight clothes and metallic accessories and layers and layers of make up. Kris thinks maybe if they hadn’t shared a room when they first met, he never would have found the courage to become friends with Adam at all. It sets him at ease to see Adam with freckles and bed head, lounging on the couch in threadbare t-shirts and too large, faded grey sweats.
+There Are No Indisputable Truths by Mari (adam/neal tiemann) // So, after I figured out who the fuck Neal Tiemann is (he's in David Cook's band, the one who's NOT Adam's type, ironically), this story was made of so much awesome. I really didn't need to know much about Neal to enjoy it. I liked viewing Adam through someone else's eyes, and in a way it reminded me of that Lance Bass/Johnny Rzeznik fic, because I know fuck all about the Goo Goo Dolls, but it was fascinating anyway. And it's well-written; it's one of those relationship phobia fics, and I like that the guys in it are very much GUYS, except probably Adam, who is more Adamy.
He hardly even paused to check out Adam’s ass as Adam disentangled himself from Neal and then leaned over Neal’s dresser without asking so that he could rummage for something to wear to bed. The one that they were going to be sleeping in. Without fucking each other. Neal was too tired for the freak-out that he could feel building behind his eyes, and also too tired to fully realize that it was there at all. He stripped off his own clothes while Adam stumbled into the bathroom to wash his face instead, didn’t crawl into the bed so much as one moment he was standing and the next his legs were informing him that they were refusing to hold him again until he proved that he could show anything at all resembling sense. He was nearly asleep by the time that Adam reemerged and slid beneath the blankets with him, stirring to full wakefulness just long enough to reach behind him and put his hand against Adam’s hip.
Adam pushed his face against the skin between Neal’s shoulder blades and mumbled, "You know it’s going to be a headline tomorrow: 'Adam Lamber enters house full of people, doesn’t come back out again. Some of them were even women.'"
Neal snickered and answered back over his shoulder. "Go to the window and drop your pants, that’ll really give them something to talk about."
"I’m too tired to get up.” Adam displayed his point with a jaw-cracking yawn. "I’ll let them see my dick in the morning." He pressed his face more firmly against Neal’s back and continued, barely audible, "I have four days off, don’t wake me up before noon for anything less than a blowjob."
And that's it, kids! Discuss, rec me things back, and if you read, leave some love for these authors, who are all made of awesome and sunshine AND THEN THEY SAVED A DYING CHILD THE END.
(And no, I don't want to talk about it. I expressed my opinions at the time and until someone can give me a logical explanation that holds up under scrutiny, I'm not going to bother saying anything else. I want to get revenge by reccing and discussing some of the amazing fic that's been written in the past few weeks, because apparently these activities are ~dangerous and you know me: I'm a rebel.)
All my previous recs can be found via my LJ recs tag (with summaries and thoughts and such) or via my delicious recs tag if you just want to know pairing and a link.
+ Kiss A Girl by setissma (kris/adam) // YOU GUYS!! SOMEONE FINALLY WROTE GENDERSWAP OMG!! And it's actually really really good. Because it's not the typical genderswap plot; it's not about the genderswap being the catalyst for the still-a-dude character's realization that OMG, he does love the suddenly-Susaned character and the girl parts help him realize that it's not the parts that matter, it's the person inside the parts, blah blah. I do love those stories, but this is not that story. This is better, because it uses the genderswap to address a different issue entirely (Kris's penchant for teasing Adam with his "pretend" gay). Plus, it's funny and well-written and the Kris in this is utterly perfect.
"I'm okay," Kris says, and it's the truth; he has a house in LA and three guitars and friends who don't question how much he loves music and he has Adam. It hasn't been easy, but Kris has lived through harder things, and for the first time, he feels like he's not trying to split himself into pieces, one person on weekends and holidays and during two am phone calls and another the rest of the time. Adam's never asked him to be anything but what he is.
+Apples Are Not the Only Fruit by bexless (kris/adam) // So this is an AU. Surprisingly, I'm not that into AI8 AUs yet, just because I'm not sick of canon enough yet to really want AUs, but this one is well worth it even if you're not so much an AU person. Especially the first half, because it's just really sweet and delightful. Adam gets stranded on the side of the road, Kris helps him out, takes him to an apple festival, and learns about how giving up on your dreams is for stupid losers. Also, there's CHARLES. Charles really needs to be in more fic, at least the way he's written here, because he was maybe my favorite part, actually. He's like the CMM of AI8, except not a horrible douche who dates high school girls and fucks Paris Hilton. So okay, he's nothing like CMM, but he's hilarious and perfect in this fic.
“You basically gave up on music when things didn’t work out with Katy,” Charles said heatedly. “And it wasn’t her fault, but evidently you need someone’s foot up your ass, and if it has to be my foot, then so be it. I’m not letting this happen again.”
Kris eyed him warily. “What are we gonna do?”
Charles thumped Kris’ knee, and then his shoulder, and then his knee again. “Here’s what we’re gonna do, Sad Man. We’re gonna watch this movie and eat some oranges,” he held up a bag of them, “and you’re gonna tell me everything about this one night stand that messed you up so bad you’re hiding your freaking DVD’s, and I’m not gonna wince or anything because I am that good a friend and anyway I’ve seen his ass myself now, too.”
+ If It Kills Me by buffyx (kris/adam) // If you haven't read this fic yet, I'd be shocked, but also OMG GO READ IT!! Kris and Adam get stranded on a desert island. I don't want to spoil anyone for what happens, so I will just say, I fucking love this fic and everything about it. It might actually be my favorite AI8 fic right now. I mean, tomorrow someone will post something new and amazing that will become my favorite, but until then, THIS SHIT RIGHT HERE. Yes. This is why I'm in fandom and why I read fic. The emotional lives of the characters in this fic are so messy and rich and complicated and heartbreaking and perfect. I haven't loved a fic this much since I started reading Sandy's popslash, and this is seriously right up there with some of the best popfic. Even if you hate Kris and Adam, have no clue who the fuck they are, whatever--just go read this fic. You will not be sorry.
But there are no cameras or paparazzi here. Kris likes that he doesn’t have to think about it before he grabs Adam in a hug, or leans against him, or huddles by him at night when it gets cold. They wake up tangled together and it just feels natural. It’s funny because he’s spent months living out of hotel rooms, and hardly any time in the same bed as Katy; he’s missed this, having someone this close.
And he needs it. He needs the closeness, the human contact, needs Adam.
But that’s nothing new.
+ All This Waiting by summerstorm (kris/katy) // So, as some of you might know, I am not that fond of Katy in real life. However, how much I like her in fic depends entirely on the writer, and this fic so perfectly depicts a slice of their relationship that I end up having a sort of grudging respect for Katy. I love how realistic this is--fighting over stupid shit, letting small things turn into giant mountains of badness, the lack of communication until they try (and succeed, possibly) to fix it all with some awesome hot sex.
When Katy wants to discuss something important, she usually stays calm, rational. She lists what's wrong, explains why, and listens to him run over his side of the issue. Their relationship has lasted this long because they communicate, they know where they stand with regards to each other, and this - the screaming, the blame-placing, the lack of rationalizing things - is totally throwing him. It's not that they've never had stupid fights before; of course they have. It's the fact that they're having an illogical fight over something that they probably should discuss, something that Katy could actually be pissed about and that Kris would understand if she was.
Katy just yells at him, though, saying something about shopping, and then she grabs her room card, throws it in her bag, and storms out.
+ Here In Secret Harmonies by miss_begonia (kris/adam) // It's a Harry Potter AU, bitches! What more do I really need to say? Well, also! It has an amazing Brad. And it's adorable. And I love it. JUST GO READ IT. I am not even giving you a quote, because I am pretty sure I couldn't choose amongst all the awesome.
+ Summer Boys by rubyfruit (kris/adam) // It's like a cross between a summer camp AU and X-Men, and Kris is a WEREWOLF OKAY?? Does there need to be more explanation? It's awesome. And adorable. And Kris is a werewolf!! I will never get tired of that. I mean, he's more like Dog Boy or whatever, but STILL.
+ These Long Summer Days by honey_wheeler (megan/anoop) // I know, right? More het. This fic is so great though. Even if it wasn't really well-written, the Megan characterization ALONE is enough reason to read this. I could never imagine how to go about writing Megan, until this fic showed me exactly how it's done. Oh, and Anoop is kind of awesome, too. I wish honey_wheeler would write more because I really love her style and her prose and just everything. I kind of want her to write a Danny pairing, just to see if she could make me enjoy it. I think she probably could. *this is sadly locked, but I will leave the rec up in case it becomes unlocked in the future.
She likes to find excuses to interrupt his concentration when he’s reading. He never gets annoyed with her, never acts like she’s a bother. Sometimes, when they’ve been driving for hours and it’s hot and sticky and she feels like melting butter, she pushes him farther and farther, trying to find something that’ll make him snap at her. It’s the same thing she used to do with her brother when they were kids, poking and poking until the whole thing erupted into fists. But nothing ever works; he’s always calm and kind to her, no matter how ridiculous she gets. Usually it’s Lil who breaks first, using her very best Mommy-is-tired-now voice to ask Megan to zip her lip for just five minutes, please.
Sometimes Megan likes to sit next to him. Sometimes she likes to sit across the bus and just watch him. Sometimes she calls Ryder and makes Anoop tell him stories. None of the other boys will do the voices, but Anoop does. The long drives are more interesting when he’s around.
+ Voices Which Are Silent by colorofsmoke (kris/adam) // This fic is like sunshine on a cloudy day, and other great cliches from pop songs of old. It really is delightful and warm and fuzzy. It's pretty much the definition of adorable, and it actually reminds me a bit of the On the Bus fics, which were so wonderful in this same way. Kris gets homesick, and Adam helps him feel better (because Adam is MAGIC.)
Kris hates calling it homesickness, it's not like he's truly sick. It's not even like he really wants to be home right now. He's having fun, making money, doing what he loves. The main idea that he misses is the familiarity of everything home brings.
When the show was still going on, Kris had the same feeling at first. Waking up at 2am to get a snack wasn't the same when he had to creep out of the room and try and remember the easiest way to the kitchen. Gradually, though, that feeling had dissipated more and more each week. The room he shared with Adam built up with both of their things, and many conversations, so much so that it almost ended up feeling like a sort of home -- a place that was there for Kris every night, with an added bonus of someone to listen to anything he wanted to say.
+More Myself with You by jerakeen (kris/adam) // I don't know how I never read this before but OH MY GOD, you guys, this fic is so great. Kris like, finds a new assistant, gets divorced, learns how to cook, and watches Adam date a string of men who aren't good enough for him. It goes from present until several years in the future, and it's just. Yes. To me, this could be the beginner's guide to Kradam. It's pretty much everything I want to happen in a kradam fic, and it's wonderful.
Kris has missed seeing Adam in pajamas, in a completely normal, non-weird way. It’s just so different when Adam is out of his tight clothes and metallic accessories and layers and layers of make up. Kris thinks maybe if they hadn’t shared a room when they first met, he never would have found the courage to become friends with Adam at all. It sets him at ease to see Adam with freckles and bed head, lounging on the couch in threadbare t-shirts and too large, faded grey sweats.
+There Are No Indisputable Truths by Mari (adam/neal tiemann) // So, after I figured out who the fuck Neal Tiemann is (he's in David Cook's band, the one who's NOT Adam's type, ironically), this story was made of so much awesome. I really didn't need to know much about Neal to enjoy it. I liked viewing Adam through someone else's eyes, and in a way it reminded me of that Lance Bass/Johnny Rzeznik fic, because I know fuck all about the Goo Goo Dolls, but it was fascinating anyway. And it's well-written; it's one of those relationship phobia fics, and I like that the guys in it are very much GUYS, except probably Adam, who is more Adamy.
He hardly even paused to check out Adam’s ass as Adam disentangled himself from Neal and then leaned over Neal’s dresser without asking so that he could rummage for something to wear to bed. The one that they were going to be sleeping in. Without fucking each other. Neal was too tired for the freak-out that he could feel building behind his eyes, and also too tired to fully realize that it was there at all. He stripped off his own clothes while Adam stumbled into the bathroom to wash his face instead, didn’t crawl into the bed so much as one moment he was standing and the next his legs were informing him that they were refusing to hold him again until he proved that he could show anything at all resembling sense. He was nearly asleep by the time that Adam reemerged and slid beneath the blankets with him, stirring to full wakefulness just long enough to reach behind him and put his hand against Adam’s hip.
Adam pushed his face against the skin between Neal’s shoulder blades and mumbled, "You know it’s going to be a headline tomorrow: 'Adam Lamber enters house full of people, doesn’t come back out again. Some of them were even women.'"
Neal snickered and answered back over his shoulder. "Go to the window and drop your pants, that’ll really give them something to talk about."
"I’m too tired to get up.” Adam displayed his point with a jaw-cracking yawn. "I’ll let them see my dick in the morning." He pressed his face more firmly against Neal’s back and continued, barely audible, "I have four days off, don’t wake me up before noon for anything less than a blowjob."
And that's it, kids! Discuss, rec me things back, and if you read, leave some love for these authors, who are all made of awesome and sunshine AND THEN THEY SAVED A DYING CHILD THE END.